by Tashny Sukumaran

A proposal from Malaysia’s Religious Affairs minister to arrest and “educate” transgender people has been opposed by domestic activists who say it will deal a further blow to the new government’s already shaky human rights record.

Zulkifli Mohamad of the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition – which came to power in March following a political coup – recently announced he had given “full license” to Islamic authorities to ensure transgender people came “back to the right path”.

“Islam is a religion that wants to educate. We will work towards coordinated efforts from all agencies under the religious affairs wing in the prime minister’s department,” he said in a Facebook post.

The announcement prompted an outcry from activists, who pointed out that in just four months since coming to power the coalition had already clamped down on union members and journalists and banned a book on the 2018 general election in which the previous administration, the Pakatan Harapan, toppled the Barisan Nasional after 61 years. Read more via SCMP